Apparatus for attaching a dental component to a dental implant

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus of attaching a dental component having an angulated screw channel to a dental implant. The present disclosure also relates to a dental component having an angulated screw channel and a metal adapter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/108,712, filed Dec. 17, 2013, which claims priority benefit of GB Patent Application No. 1223210.4, filed on Dec. 21, 2012. The disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and should be considered a part of this application.

The present invention relates to a method of attaching a dental component to a dental implant. The present invention also relates to a dental component for attachment to a dental implant.

WO2004002358 A1 discloses a ceramic spacer with associated adapter designed to be fitted on an implant. The adapter comprises first and second portions designed to cooperate with the spacer and the implant, respectively, for securing the spacer on the implant.

Typically, to attach a spacer of the type disclosed in WO2004002358 A1 to the dental implant, the adapter is first attached to the spacer. The adapter/spacer is then applied to the implant. Thereafter, a screw is inserted through the spacer and used to fix the spacer to the implant. However, this method may not be optimal for all types of spacers.

The present inventors have realized that in case the spacer is provided with an angulated screw channel, the method described above may not be optimal, since the angulated screw channel then may need a long straight portion to accommodate the screw aligned with the dental implant before it is screwed into the implant.

The present invention is defined in the appended independent claims. Embodiments are defined in the appended dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of attaching a dental component to a dental implant, the dental component comprising: a component body, wherein the component body comprises a screw channel passing through the component body and forming a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an apical end, and a screw seat proximal to the apical end of the screw channel for seating the head of a screw for the fixation of the dental component to the dental implant, wherein the longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the first end does not match the longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the apical end; and a metal adapter attachable to the component body, wherein the metal adapter comprises a bore passing through the metal adapter and forming a coronal opening and an apical opening, which method comprises: providing the component body without the metal adapter; inserting the screw into the screw channel through the first opening, and passing the screw through the screw channel so that a portion of the screw opposite said head protrudes through the second opening at the apical end of the screw channel; attaching the metal adapter to the component body as said portion of the screw protrudes through the second opening; and attaching the component body with the attached metal adapter to the dental implant, and fixing the component body with the attached metal adapter to the dental implant using the screw.

By changing the order in which the component body, the metal adapter, the implant and the screw are manipulated, the angulated screw channel in the component body can be made narrower.

The head of the screw may be seated on the screw seat as said portion of the screw protrudes through the second opening.

The metal adapter may be adapted to be attached to the apical end of the component body, wherein the bore of the metal adapter is aligned with the screw channel at the second opening when the metal adapter is attached to the component body.

The metal adapter may have a conical connection interface for attachment to the dental implant, wherein the conical connection interface includes an external conical shape tapering towards the apical end of the metal adapter, and an external indexed portion provided apically of the conical shape adjacent to the apical end of the metal adapter. Alternatively, the metal adapter includes at least one convex lobe adapted to abut against at least one corresponding concave recess in the component body for preventing rotation between the component body and the metal adapter, wherein said at least one convex lobe extends apically of an apical end of the component body when the metal adapter is attached to the component body.

The metal adapter may be removably attachable to the component body, for example by means of friction-fit and/or snap-locking.

The metal adapter may comprise at least one flexible arm with a protrusion adapted to press against a side wall and/or snap into any corresponding undercut of the component body for securing the metal adapter to the component body in the coronal-apical direction.

The component body is adapted to support a dental restoration.

The component body may be a full-contour part.

The component body may be ceramic.

The dental implant may be arranged in a physical model, wherein the dental implant optionally is a replica.

The dental implant may be anchored in a jaw bone of a patient.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dental component for attachment to a dental implant, the dental component comprising: a ceramic component body, wherein the component body comprises a screw channel passing through the component body and forming a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an apical end, and a screw seat proximal to the apical end of the screw channel for seating the head of a screw for the fixation of the dental component to the dental implant, wherein the longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the first end does not match the longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the apical end; and a metal adapter removably attachable to the component body, wherein the metal adapter comprises a bore passing through the metal adapter and forming a coronal opening and an apical opening. This aspect may exhibit the same or similar features and/or technical effects as the previously discussed aspects, and vice versa.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the dental component is provided in combination with the dental implant.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing currently preferred embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 1 a-1 e show in sequence a method of attaching a dental component to a dental implant according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a dental component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 a-1 e show a method of attaching a dental component 10, for example an abutment, with an angulated screw channel 60 to a dental implant 46.

The dental component 10 comprises a coronal component body 12, see also FIG. 2 . The outer shape of the component body 12 in the figures may be schematic. The component body 12 may be adapted to support a dental restoration or a dental prosthesis, such as a single-unit restoration (crown) or a bridge. The restoration or prosthesis may for example be cemented to the component body 12. Alternatively, the dental component itself may be a crown or bridge. Also, the component body of the present dental component may be a full-contour part. The component body 12 is preferably made entirely of ceramic material such as zirconia.

The dental component 10 further comprises an apical metal adapter 14. The metal adapter 14 is for example made of titanium or titanium alloy. As in the illustrated embodiment, the metal adapter 14 may include at least one convex lobe 16 adapted to abut against at least one corresponding concave recess 38 in the component body 12 for preventing rotation between the component body 12 and the metal adapter 14. The at least one convex lobe 16 extends apically of an apical end 34 of the component body 12 when the metal adapter 14 is properly attached to the component body 12, whereby at least one convex lobe 16 also abut can against at least one corresponding concave recess 44 in the dental implant 46 for preventing rotation between the dental component 10 and the dental implant 46. Alternatively, the metal adapter may have a conical connection interface (not shown) for attachment to a dental implant. The conical connection interface may include an external conical shape tapering towards the apical end of the metal adapter, and an external indexed portion provided apically of the conical shape at the apical end of the metal adapter.

The metal adapter 14 further comprises a central bore 28. The bore 28 passes through the metal adapter 14, and forms a coronal opening 30 a and an apical opening 30 b.

The metal adapter 14 is preferably removably attachable to the component body 12, e.g. by means of friction-fit and/or snap-locking. Other options include press-fit and surface roughness, but not gluing. In this way, the metal adapter 12 may repeatedly be attached/detached. The metal adapter 12 may comprise at least one flexible arm 52 with a protrusion 50 is adapted to press against a side wall 44 and/or snap into any corresponding undercut or recess (not shown) of the component body 12 when the metal adapter 14 is attached to the component body 12, for preventing displacement between the metal adapter 14 and the component body 12 in the coronal-apical direction.

The component body 12 further comprises a screw channel 60. The screw channel 60 passes through the component body 12, and forms a first opening 62 a at a first end 64 a of the screw channel 60 and a second opening 62 b at a second (apical) end 64 b of the screw channel 60. The longitudinal axis 92 a of the screw channel 60 at the first end 64 a does not match the longitudinal axis 92 b of the screw channel 60 at the second end 64 b. That is, the screw channel 60 is angulated. The longitudinal axis 92 b of the screw channel 60 at the second end 64 b is aligned with the overall longitudinal axis 18 of the dental component 10. The first opening 64 a is situated at one of the sides of the component body 12.

In the screw channel 60, there is provided a screw seat 68 proximal to the second end 64 b. The screw channel 60 preferably includes an inclined surface defining said 30 screw seat 68. The screw seat 68 is adapted to seat the head 70 of a screw 72 used for fixing the dental component 10 to the dental implant 46. Opposite the head 70, the screw 72 has an external thread 74. Also, when the component body 12 and the metal adapter 14 are assembled, the screw channel 60 of the component body 12 and the bore 28 of the metal adapter 14 are aligned.

The component body and metal adapter are also described in Applicant's co-pending applications entitled “ABUTMENT AND METHOD OF ATTACHING AN ABUTMENT TO A DENTAL IMPLANT” and “DENTAL COMPONENT WITH METAL ADAPTER”, the contents of which herein are incorporated by reference.

Returning to FIGS. 1 a-1 e , first the component body 12 with the angulated screw channel 60 is provided without the metal adapter 14 (FIG. 1 a ).

Then the screw 72 is inserted into the screw channel 60 through the first opening 62 a (FIG. 1 b ). The screw 72 is passed through the screw channel 60 so that a portion 96 of the screw 72 opposite the head 70 protrudes through the second opening 62 b at the apical end 64 b of the screw channel (FIG. 1 c ). Since the metal adapter 14 is not yet attached to the component body 12, the screw 72 does not have to be aligned with the longitudinal axis 92 b at the apical end 64 b before the screw 72 is brought through the second opening 62 b. This allows for a narrow angled screw channel 60. As the portion 96 of the screw 72 protrudes through the second opening 62 b, the head 70 of the screw is conveniently seated on the screw seat 68.

Then, the metal adapter 14 is attached to the component body 12 (FIG. 1 d ), preferably from below. This takes part outside a patient's mouth.

Finally, the dental component 10 (i.e. the component body 12 with the attached metal adapter 14), together with the screw already inserted into the screw channel 60, is applied to the dental implant 46, and fixed to the dental implant 46 using the screw 72 (FIG. 5 e ).

The dental implant to which the dental component 10 is attached may be anchored in a jaw bone of the patient, or it may be arranged in a physical model. In the latter case, the dental implant may be a replica or implant analog.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A dental component for attachment to a dental implant, the dental component comprising: a screw having a length and having a head at one end of the screw, the head having a maximum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the screw, a component body, wherein the component body is made of ceramic and comprises a screw channel passing through the component body and forming a first opening at a first end and a second opening at an apical end, and a screw seat proximal to the apical end of the screw channel for seating the head of the screw for fixation of the dental component to the dental implant, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the first end does not match a central longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the apical end and wherein a distance, along the central longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the apical end, between the second opening and an inner surface of the screw channel is less than the length of the screw, and wherein the first opening has a minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the first end, and wherein the maximum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the screw of the head is smaller than the minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the screw channel at the first end and wherein a diameter of the screw channel varies from the first opening to the screw seat; and an adapter that is made of metal and is removably attachable to the component body, wherein the adapter comprises a bore passing through the adapter and forming a coronal opening and an apical opening.
 2. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the bore is aligned with the screw channel at the second opening when the adapter is attached to the component body.
 3. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a conical connection interface for attachment to the dental implant, the conical connection interface comprising an external conical shape tapering towards an apical end of the adapter, and an external indexed portion provided apically of the external conical shape adjacent to the apical end of the adapter.
 4. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises at least one flexible arm with a protrusion adapted to press against a side wall or snap into any corresponding undercut of the component body for securing the adapter to the component body in the coronal-apical direction.
 5. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the adapter includes at least one convex lobe adapted to abut against at least one corresponding concave recess in the component body for preventing rotation between the component body and the adapter.
 6. The dental component according to claim 5, wherein said at least one convex lobe extends apically of an apical end of the component body when the adapter is attached to the component body.
 7. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the component body is adapted to support a dental restoration.
 8. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the component body is a crown, a bridge, or a full-contour part.
 9. The dental component according to claim 1, wherein the screw is sized such that a threaded portion of the screw extends through the second opening when the head of the screw is proximal of the screw seat. 